Written by

NORTH LA.'S FIRST DOG PARK OPENS

West Monroe is the first Louisiana city north of Interstate 10 to open a dog park. Raising Cane's Dog Park opened Thursday in the city's Kiroli Park."There's constantly dogs back there, and people and more people," West Monroe parks director Doug Seegers said. "It never slows down."The addition of the off-leash area at Kiroli Park has opened doors for tourism and new users. "There's people I've never seen out here, and that is a wonderful unintended benefit," Seegers said. "Sunday, there were people visiting from Mississippi and Arkansas. I just continue to be astounded."West Monroe's dog park have been in the works since Seegers became parks director about three years ago. In January, a Facebook group spurred efforts. Seegers began researching and visiting dog parks in Baton Rouge.He contacted Raising Cane's, a Baton Rouge-based restaurant chain that lists animal welfare as one of its priorities, and it embraced the idea."I'm proud of what we've done," Seegers said. "I can't say enough about the support of the dog people, the pet owners, the volunteers, the business community and the sponsors. They made it all possible."

BUDGET PRESENTATION POSTPONES

A presentation about Shreveport's proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2013, which projects 9.7 percent less than budgeted for 2012, has been postponed until the City Council meets Oct. 23.

More

ADVERTISEMENT

Shreveport City Council members sent a clear message Tuesday to Mayor Cedric Glover: Sign the agreement to accept $280,000 from the Red River Waterway Commission approved this summer for construction of a riverfront dog park.

Council members' success in overriding his veto does not affect his decision to not sign the agreement, Glover said Tuesday from his hospital bed. He was responding to questions The Times sent to him via email. His responses came through city communications director Rod Richardson.

"Hopefully, it settles the matter so that we can now focus on other more important matters," Glover said. "If the (Shreveport Dog Park) Alliance manages to continue fundraising from sources not in competition with the city of Shreveport, we will continue to work with them on a riverfront location."

The mayor said he also has "instructed staff to more closely study the (dog park) efforts of Baton Rouge, New Orleans and now West Monroe to see if they offer more viable options."

On Thursday, Glover vetoed the council's call for him to put ink to paper on the dog park funding accord. The council overrode that veto Tuesday with a unanimous vote.

Today, the Waterway Commission's recreation committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Natchitoches to discuss about $8 million in funding requests for fiscal year 2013 from the seven parishes in its jurisdiction.

"They will give us their thoughts on these future projects for consideration and tell us what to proceed with," Waterway Commission Executive Director Ken Guidry said of the panel. "They could pick some, delete some completely off the list, they could say, on second thought, we're not going to do anything. It could be from one end of the spectrum from the other. There's plenty for them to choose from."

Part of that $8 million is about $2 million worth of riverfront projects for which Shreveport is seeking funding. Glover has given that pending request as a reason for his refusal to sign the dog park agreement.

In the letter accompanying his veto Thursday, the mayor says he supports the concept of a dog park but that support "does not override my concern" on how the funding was obtained and the "priority this project was given over" the city-requested projects.

Cynthia Keith, of the Shreveport Dog Park Alliance, displayed for council members Tuesday a "primitive" chart depicting the piece of the funding pie for the dog park in relation to the amount the city has requested. "This little piece has torn this city up. Can we get this behind us, please? Let's get this done and do what the people, your constituents, want to do."

Shreveport's request includes restrooms and a pavilion at RiverView Park; a pavilion, picnic and bank fishing areas and trail improvements at Stoner Woods; and informational kiosks at all three parks.

Also included is $875,000 worth of improvements at Hamel Park, including $50,000 for water line construction that already is accounted for in the dog park funding. Bathrooms, a picnic area, additional parking and a playground also are part of the city's request.